Pirate rumors send 200 running

BACOLOD CITY—About 200 residents of the seashore village of Barangay (village) Old Sagay in Sagay City fled their homes at 8:30 p.m. on Friday due to fear over reports of a pirate attack.

The panic was triggered by rumors that since Thursday night, pirates who reportedly hit Bantayan Island earlier were proceeding to Sagay, said Mayor Alfredo Marañon III and Chief Insp. Edel Jose Manzano, Sagay police chief.

The rumors that the pirates were on board three pump boats spread in Sitio Punta Roma, Barangay Old Sagay, Marañon said.

Manzano, who along with his men had gone to the area to investigate the incident, said the 200 residents of Punta Roma fled to Barangay Old Sagay and the Sagay City proper after hearing reports that the pirates were on a killing spree.

The rumors were that the pirates could be fugitives who had escaped from the Tacloban City jail during Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” Manzano said.

The residents told the police they heard pump boats approaching Punta Roma but they could not see them because it was dark.

They added that from the sound of the engines they heard, there were two pump boats.

When the residents could no longer hear the sound of the engines, the rumors quickly spread that the pirates had disembarked and were going from house to house killing people, causing the terrified residents to panic, the police chief said.

Manzano explained that the fear of the residents was all based on speculation and rumors.

The news of the pirate attack had even reached Negrenses in Manila, who called to ask if it was true.

Manzano said police and the barangay tanod (village watchmen) were in the area to assure the residents that they could return home and that all was safe.